Iberian Tour Wash-up

I came up to Liverpool today and after the rugby was finished I headed up to Woolton to check out Jan's and my favourite places from when we lived in Quarry Street. That was a salutary lesson, nothing stays the same, you cannot go back.



I went on my Spanish odyssey to try to get my head straight, expecting to come back with everything sorted in my mind, but apart from resolving some minor admin matters I have really only decided what I am not going to do. I am taking that as a positive, at least I don't have to worry about all those things any more, so I will not be buying a house in Spain, Portugal or France, I will not be doing extended solo touring and Jan's ashes are not going to be scattered in all the locations that were on her bucket list, she and I will go and visit them together.

After re-reading the above I realise that I have made some decisions.
1. Carpe Diem
2. Always say yes
3. My anthem now is 'Take it to the Limit' 

If you want to join in or suggest something I should take part in please go for it.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

The cost of fuel in Spain and Portugal is about 80% what it is in the UK, but the best thing is that there is no difference in price on the motorways, so you are not getting ripped off. When will motorway services in the UK wake up to the fact that they are pricing themselves out of the market, most people now only stop to use the toilets and then drive on.

A strange vehicle can be seen over here mainly in the towns, it looks like a two-seater Trabant and seems to kick out just as much pollution. I have tried to identify them, they have the name Aixam and are apparently made in France  and they are so low powered that they can be driven without a licence in Spain. They also seem to be classed as motorcycles even though they have four wheels because they have the same distinctive registration plates the scooters and bikes have. They probably only cost about 17/6d to buy but would cost about £1000.00 a year to tax in the UK because of the amount of muck they chuck out.

One thing I forgot to share was, when I was on the good ship African Queen, the on-board guide kept talking about the varied marine life in the national park but she kept referring to the fish and shellfish not as marine life but as seafood, I did look around but no one else seemed to notice.

A tip for all you budding continental travellers - if you like Camembert buy it from your nearest Tesco or Lidl, DO NOT buy it three days before you are due to arrive home (even if you pack it in a sealed container inside a coolbag) because your car will end up smelling like a warthog died in it last year.